The Pure Watercolour Society is a small and informal society for
painters in watercolour who enjoy using the medium in pure transparent
washed allied to fine draftsmanship in the method exemplified by
the 19th century masters, such as John Sell Cotman, Richard Parkes
Bonington, David Cox, Thomas Girtin and J.M.W. Turner, and as followed
in the 20th century by, among others, Edward Seago, Edward Wesson,
Leonard Squirrell, Charles Knight and James Fletcher-Watson.

The PWS was founded in 1999 with James Fletcher-Watson R.I., R.B.A.
as its President and driving force. James believed passionately in
passing on the pure watercolour tradition: “The great masters showed
us the way and it is right that we should follow in their footsteps,
not copying but receiving inspiration from them. My aim is to carry
on the torch, encouraging today’s painters to express the beauty of
the landscape simply and effectively.”

Following James’s death in 2004, David Curtis R.O.I., R.S.M.A. - one
of Britain’s most successful artists - kindly agreed to become Patron
of the PWS. International artist Robert Wade A.W.S. is an Honorary
Member of the society, and most recently Trevor Chamberlain R.O.I.,
R.S.M.A. agreed to become an Honorary Member. These well respected
artists support the PWS in its aims to provide opportunities for members
and selected non-members to exhibit pure watercolours, as well as passing
on skills and techniques to students of watercolour painting so that
this exciting and challenging medium can be enjoyed and mastered by
the
next generation.